2026 Bangladesh Public Holidays Calendar
Bangladesh Government Holidays 2026: Official List, Calendar, and Key Highlights Announced
The Government of Bangladesh has officially published the Public Holiday List for 2026, confirming the year’s schedule of national, religious, and cultural holidays. The announcement came through a circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration (Jonoproshashon Montronaloy), detailing a total of 22–23 government holidays, depending on the sighting of the moon for certain Islamic observances.
This official calendar will guide all government offices, autonomous bodies, banks, schools, and private institutions in planning their operational schedules, academic calendars, and yearly activities.
Despite a few holidays coinciding with weekends, the 2026 calendar still offers citizens multiple long breaks—particularly during Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, and Durga Puja—allowing families to celebrate their traditions and spend quality time together.
Bangladesh Government Official Holiday List 2026
The full list of Bangladesh public holidays 2026 is provided below, as announced by the government. These include observances from Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian faiths, as well as major national commemorative days.
Here’s the official Bangladesh Government Holiday List for 2026, covering General Public Holidays and those declared by Executive Order:
| Date(s) | Day(s) | Holiday Name |
| Feb 4 | Wednesday | *Shab-e-Barat |
| Feb 21 | Saturday | International Mother Language Day (Shaheed Day) |
| Mar 17 | Tuesday | *Shab-e-Qadr (Laylat al-Qadr) |
| Mar 18 – Mar 23 | Wed – Mon | *Eid-ul-Fitr Holiday Period |
| Mar 20 | Friday | Jumatul Bidah |
| Mar 26 | Thursday | Independence Day |
| Apr 13 | Monday | Chaitra Sankranti (Hill Districts Only) |
| Apr 14 | Tuesday | Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) |
| May 1 | Friday | May Day & *Buddha Purnima |
| May 26 – May 31 | Tue – Sun | *Eid-ul-Azha Holiday Period |
| Jun 26 | Friday | *Ashura |
| Aug 5 | Wednesday | July Mass Uprising Day |
| Aug 26 | Wednesday | *Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi |
| Sep 4 | Friday | Janmashtami |
| Oct 20 – Oct 21 | Tue – Wed | Durga Puja (Navami & Vijaya Dashami) |
| Dec 16 | Wednesday | Victory Day |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
Important Note on Optional Holidays: Employees may be granted permission to enjoy up to a total of three (3) days of optional holidays per year from the designated lists (Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, or Small Ethnic Groups), subject to prior approval from the appropriate authority.
Note: Islamic holidays (marked with *) are based on the lunar Hijri calendar and may shift slightly depending on moon sighting.
Major Highlights of Bangladesh Holidays 2026
Five-Day Eid Holidays Continue Under New Policy
In 2026, both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha will again feature five-day official holidays, following the new extended-holiday policy introduced in 2025.
- Eid-ul-Fitr: March 19–23 (Eid expected on March 21)
- Eid-ul-Adha: May 26–31 (Eid expected on May 27)
The extended Eid holidays were introduced to ease nationwide travel congestion and give citizens more time to reunite with family members living outside major cities. The move has been widely welcomed as a people-friendly decision.
Durga Puja Remains a Two-Day National Holiday
The government has confirmed October 20–21, 2026, as holidays for Durga Puja (Navami and Vijaya Dashami) — the most significant Hindu religious festival in Bangladesh.
These two days symbolize harmony and inclusivity, recognizing the contribution and culture of the Hindu community, which plays a vital role in Bangladesh’s social fabric.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Birthday Reinstated
After being dropped from the 2025 calendar, March 17 — the birthday of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — returns as a national public holiday in 2026.
The day will be observed nationwide with wreath-laying ceremonies, cultural events, and discussions highlighting Bangabandhu’s life, leadership, and vision for Bangladesh.
Weekend Overlaps Slightly Reduce Total Days Off
Some major holidays — including February 21 (Shaheed Day), May 1 (May Day & Buddha Purnima), and August 15 (National Mourning Day) — will fall on weekends in 2026. As a result, the total number of effective off days for government employees may slightly decrease from the full count of 23.
Month-by-Month Breakdown of Bangladesh Public Holidays 2026
- January 2026: No official holidays.
- February 2026: Feb 4 (Wed): Shab-e-Barat | Feb 21 (Sat): International Mother Language Day
- March 2026: Mar 17 (Tue): Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Birthday | Mar 18 (Wed): Laylat al-Qadr | Mar 20 (Fri): Jumatul Wida | Mar 19–23 (Thu–Mon): Eid-ul-Fitr | Mar 26 (Thu): Independence Day
- April 2026: Apr 14 (Tue): Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year)
- May 2026: May 1 (Fri): May Day & Buddha Purnima | May 26–31 (Tue–Sun): Eid-ul-Azha
- June 2026: Jun 26 (Fri): Ashura
- July 2026: No national holidays.
- August 2026: Aug 5 (Wed): July Mass Uprising Day | Aug 15 (Sat): National Mourning Day | Aug 26 (Wed): Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi
- September 2026: Sep 4 (Fri): Janmashtami
- October 2026: Oct 20–21 (Tue–Wed): Durga Puja (Navami & Vijaya Dashami)
- November 2026: No public holidays.
- December 2026: Dec 16 (Wed): Victory Day | Dec 25 (Fri): Christmas Day
Final Thoughts
The Bangladesh Public Holiday Calendar 2026 reflects the country’s cultural harmony and national unity. From Eid celebrations to Durga Puja, Pohela Boishakh, and Victory Day, the holidays represent the spirit of a nation built on faith, heritage, and resilience.
Though some holidays overlap with weekends, 2026 offers citizens several long breaks to reconnect with family, travel, and celebrate together — reinforcing the timeless message of “unity in diversity.”
